Russia may tighten migrant labor rules

A new bill has been proposed in Russia to tighten the rules for hiring migrant workers. The legislation targets businesses owned by foreign nationals operating as sole proprietors. If passed, it would introduce stricter requirements for employers before they can recruit foreign labourers.

The bill was submitted to the State Duma by the Russian government, with MPs Sergey Mironov and Fyodor Tumusov leading the initiative. Its main goal is to crack down on illegal migrant employment at companies registered in Russia but controlled by foreign sole proprietors (IPs).

Under the proposed law, foreign nationals would need to meet two key conditions before hiring migrant workers. First, they must have held IP status for at least three years. Second, they must have no record of violations in tax, labour, or other regulatory compliance during that period. The government argues that these measures will help prevent abuse of the system by foreign-owned businesses. Currently, some employers bypass restrictions by registering as sole proprietors, allowing them to hire migrant workers with fewer checks.

The draft legislation now awaits review by the State Duma. If approved, it will impose stricter oversight on foreign-owned sole proprietors hiring migrant labour. Businesses failing to meet the new criteria could face penalties or restrictions on workforce recruitment.